Seeking Surrender, Water Official Great Emperor

"Boring!"

Wu Zhiqi glanced at Guanyin Bodhisattva, then at Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva, and laughed. "Your Buddhist Sect really has no shame! One of you holds a Magic Treasure that counters me, while the other puts on such a righteous act!"

He was no fool. He could naturally tell that although Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva was leading the Buddhist Sect's people, Guanyin was the one truly taking action.

Just moments ago, Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva had taken the lead in expressing his intention to convert Wu Zhiqi.

Wu Zhiqi naturally scoffed at that. Recalling the voice that had sounded by his ear earlier, he immediately looked toward Li Jing, who held a pagoda in his hand. "You with the pagoda, help me ask the Jade Emperor something. If I submit to the Heavenly Court and become one of its members, what official position would he be willing... to grant me?"

"What?"

Li Jing was stunned.

He had never expected that Wu Zhiqi, who had been so aggressive just moments ago, would actually want to submit to the Heavenly Court.

Then why the hell had you been fighting so fiercely before?

"How dare you!"

Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva flew into a rage. "You demon monkey, you have committed countless evils, yet you still dream of joining the Heavenly Court? Delusional! Today, I shall eliminate this scourge on behalf of the Great Heavenly Venerate!"

He had come this time to use the merit of suppressing Wu Zhiqi to distinguish himself before Buddha Tathagata. If Wu Zhiqi joined the Heavenly Court, it would be anything but good news for the Buddhist Sect!

"Oh?"

"You're getting worked up."

Wu Zhiqi was the kind who could infuriate someone to death without paying for it. He immediately sneered. "Didn't you just invite me to become a Dharmapala of the Buddhist Sect? Why did your expression change the moment I said I wanted to join the Heavenly Court?"

"Seeking death!"

Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva erupted in fury and attacked directly. Endless Buddha Light manifested, transforming into a gigantic palm that blotted out the sky as it crashed down upon Wu Zhiqi.

[Falling Devil Great Hand Seal]

Golden Buddha Light covered heaven and earth as endless Buddhist chants resounded through the void. Stars shifted within the palm, as though an entire sea of stars were pressing down from above.

Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva might not have been a match for great Bodhisattvas like Guanyin and Samantabhadra, but among the Buddhist Sect's many Bodhisattvas, he still ranked near the very top.

Otherwise, Buddha Tathagata would never have allowed him to lead the group suppressing Wu Zhiqi...

But Wu Zhiqi was no pushover.

With his Water Origin Great Dao suppressed by Guanyin Bodhisattva's Jade Bottle, he closed in for hand-to-hand combat. Golden blood energy surged into the sky, and as the Bintie Cudgel in his hand struck out, the void shattered in an instant. Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva's palm seal was destroyed, while boundless divine power erupted into an utter intent of destruction.

Though Wu Zhiqi's greatest reliance was the Water Origin Great Dao, his physical body was also immensely powerful. In this world, it could be called a body made holy. Otherwise, why would Da Yu have needed to leave behind such a hidden danger?

"You're not good enough!"

Fearless and secure in his advantage, Wu Zhiqi sneered. "With such meager strength, you dare show off before me?"

He could perceive people's hearts, so he deliberately provoked Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva. Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva was eager to earn merit, but anger had unknowingly risen in his heart. For a moment, Wu Zhiqi caught a flaw in him.

The two instantly fell into fierce battle.

Samantabhadra and Manjushri had intended to step forward and help, but Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva stopped them!

Things had already reached this point. If he could not personally suppress Wu Zhiqi, how would he ever hold his head high before the Buddhist Sect and the beings of the Three Realms?

At the same time, an intense discussion was unfolding within the Lingxiao Treasure Hall of the Nine Heavens, naturally because of Wu Zhiqi's earlier words.

The Jade Emperor swept his gaze across the Heavenly Court's gods and slowly spoke. "My ministers, what do you think? Should We offer surrender to Wu Zhiqi?"

Taibai Jinxing immediately spoke. "Wu Zhiqi possesses heaven-reaching abilities. Even Da Yu had needed to invite many Immortals and Gods before he could suppress him! Now that he is willing to submit, if he can be put to use by the Heavenly Court, it will be a blessing for the beings of the Three Realms!"

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that offering surrender to Wu Zhiqi is highly feasible!"

The moment Taibai Jinxing spoke, the other Immortals and Gods fell silent. Who in the Heavenly Court did not know that Taibai Jinxing was a close minister of the Jade Emperor?

This old fellow might not have been among the strongest, but he was exceptionally skilled at discerning the imperial will. It would not be an exaggeration to call him a worm in the Jade Emperor's belly.

The fact that he had spoken meant that the Jade Emperor truly had the intention of offering surrender!

The Immortals and Gods hurriedly voiced their agreement.

After all...

If they did not offer surrender, Li Jing and the others alone would likely find it difficult to suppress Wu Zhiqi, unless they invited Taiyi the Rescuer Heavenly Venerate and the True Martial Emperor to act...

But if they offered surrender, they could add a top-tier combatant to the Heavenly Court.

Furthermore, it would spread the Heavenly Court's prestige and embarrass the Buddhist Sect. No matter how one looked at it, offering surrender to Wu Zhiqi brought a hundred benefits and not a single harm.

Of course, Wu Zhiqi's wild nature was difficult to tame. Even if he joined the Heavenly Court, they would need to find a great deity to restrain him, giving Wu Zhiqi something to fear.

"Good!"

The Jade Emperor nodded in satisfaction. "Convey Our decree. Since Wu Zhiqi is willing to submit to the Heavenly Court, We are willing to pardon his former crimes! Not only that, We bestow upon him the title of Water Official Great Emperor, to be placed under the command of the Ziwei Great Emperor! Taibai Jinxing, We leave this matter to you!"

Water Official Great Emperor?

The gods were startled. This was one of the highest god positions beneath the Four Imperials, with authority over the Water Origin Great Dao of the Three Realms. Given Wu Zhiqi's abilities, the position suited him extremely well—but where would that leave the Four Seas Dragon Race?

Could it be that His Majesty had recently begun considering putting the Dragon Race in its place?

Ever since Buddha Tathagata had taken control of the Buddhist Sect, the Dragon Race had indeed grown somewhat close to it. The Dragon Assembly among the Buddhist Sect's Eightfold Assembly was widely renowned!

Although the Three Realms appeared peaceful on the surface, the conflict between the Buddhist Dao and the Dao had always existed. The Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect were not as close as they seemed.

"Yes!"

While the gods were deep in thought, Taibai Jinxing had already accepted the imperial decree. Riding an auspicious cloud, he departed from the South Heaven Gate for the Huai River in Southern Jambudvipa.

At that moment, Wu Zhiqi and Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva were locked in a heated battle. Endless Dao laws collided, and the void around the Huai River rumbled without cease.

Even without using the Water Origin Great Dao, Wu Zhiqi was stronger than Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva by a measure. Yet after receiving Xuan Yin's guidance, he deliberately maintained an even stalemate with Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva.

His purpose was to stall for time!

Sure enough, half a day later, Taibai Jinxing finally arrived. "By decree of the Jade Emperor, Wu Zhiqi is appointed Water Official Great Emperor, overseeing the water origins of the Three Realms. Fellow Daoists, please cease fighting!"

"Hahaha!"

Wu Zhiqi could not help laughing. "Guoshi Wang, you should go back and cultivate properly!"

"Boom!"

Before his words had even faded, Wu Zhiqi gathered all his Magic Power and unleashed a heaven-shaking strike. The Bintie Cudgel slammed directly into Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva's golden body.

"Crack!"

That blow contained endless power of laws. Countless cracks immediately spread across Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva's golden body, as though it might shatter at any moment.

After sending Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva flying, Wu Zhiqi did not press his advantage. Instead, he looked toward Taibai Jinxing. "Wu Zhiqi thanks His Majesty for his great grace!"

"You are too polite, Great Sage!"

Taibai Jinxing smiled. "With the Great Sage's abilities, this god position could not be more fitting. In the future, you will surely become a pillar of our Heavenly Court!"

This could be called a win-win situation!

Wu Zhiqi had fought the Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals, as well as the Buddhist Sect's Bodhisattvas, winning face for himself. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Court had brought this ancient demon god under its command, greatly increasing its strength and winning tangible gains.

As for Guoshi Wang Bodhisattva, who had lost face, what did that have to do with the Heavenly Court...?

If he could not defeat Wu Zhiqi, it only meant his cultivation was still lacking. It was the perfect opportunity to let the beings of the Three Realms witness the Heavenly Court's broad-minded tolerance!